LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas man has now been sentenced to more than two decades in prison for his involvement in the distribution of fentanyl which ultimately resulted in someone's death.
According to reports, an investigation showed that just over two years ago, 33-year-old Joseph Riggins, Jr. of Little Rock had been texting someone and offering to trade heroin in exchange for sex.
Riggins then allegedly met up with the person at a motel and gave them a "controlled substance containing fentanyl." The person later used that controlled substance while in the motel room.
The next morning, motel staff found the person dead inside the motel room.
The victim's body was later taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to have a forensic analysis done and the autopsy showed that their death was caused by "a mixed drug toxicity of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine."
Reports from the medical examiner also showed that the fentanyl in the body at the time of the examination was at a much higher level than where lethal levels of fentanyl are typically at.
In November 2023, Rigins pleaded guilty to the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Then on April 4, 2023, he was indicted on one count of "knowingly and intentionally distributing a mixture and substance containing fentanyl that resulted in death."
A few months later, on August 14, 2024, Riggins was ultimately sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
The investigation into Riggins was performed by law enforcement officials with the North Little Rock Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
